Knock-down fruit crate



May 4, 1937.

J. NORINSBERG ET AL 2,079,330

KNOCK-DOWN FRUIT CRATE Filed July 6, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l BY 620/195 [:6 l?

,.;III""""""' ill; Fig.2 K16 W ATTOI-QNEY May'4, 1937. J. NORINSBERG ET AL KNOCK-DOWN FRUIT CRATE Filed July 6, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HM I I 11W 11' lNVENTOR-S \ECZ jYormsber (Ibex-1m lee 0 5 i ATTORNEY Patented May 4, 1937 LINKED STATES PATENT OFFICE Jack Norinsberg and Charles Lee Roye, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application July 6, 1935, Serial No. 30,052

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a knock-down fruit crate.

The invention has for an object the construction of an article as mentioned which is characterized by the fact that the component thereof may be easily assembled and knocked down, without the use of nails, staples or other holding elements.

The invention has specific reference to an arrangement wherein the bottom walls of the crates are efficiently held in position.

Still further the invention contemplates the use of key strips attached on the ends of the side walls and engageable with grooves along the side portions of the end walls to hold the walls together, and the bottom edges of the key strips resting against the top of the bottom wall to hold it against transverse displacement.

Still further the invention also proposes the bottom wall of each crate to rest freely on side strips attached upon the end walls and in which the side walls extend over the side edges of the bottom wall to hold it against lateral displacement.

Still further the invention proposes an arrangement wherein the side walls extend past the edges of the end walls.

Another one of the objects of this invention is to make provision whereby bottom walls of different sizes may be substituted in each of the crates.

Another object of the invention is the construction of an article as described which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a crate constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the side walls of the crate.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the end walls of the crate.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a jig by which the crates may be easily assembled.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5 with a crate shown in position.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 7-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a crate constructed according to another embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one side wall of the crate.

Fig. 10 is a. longitudinal sectional view on the line Ill-40 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one end wall of the crate.

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of a crate constructed according to another embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line l4l4 of Fig. 13.

The separable fruit crate, according to this invention, comprises a pair of spaced end walls it] having strips ll along the bottom inner edges thereof. Side walls I2 extend between the end walls.

Key strips l3 are attached on the ends of the side walls and are engageable with grooves l3 along the side portions of the end walls to hold the walls together. A bottom wall I4 is freely rested upon the strips H and held against displacement in a simple, eflicient manner. The side walls l2 extend over the side edges of the bottom wall M to hold it against lateral displacement, and the lower end of the key strips l3 rest on the top face of the bottom wall to hold it against transverse displacement, and the grooves l3 are slightly tapered so that when the crate is assembled, during the first part of the assembly the bottom wall I4 is loosely held, but at the completion of the assembly of members 10 and I2, the bottom wall 14 is firmly gripped.

Grip elements l5 are attached along the top edges of the outer sides of the end walls l2. The key grooves I3 extend from the top edge of the end walls to a small distance above the top of the strips II. The purpose of terminating the grooves above the strips II is that the grooves need extend no further downwards than the top face of the bottom wall l4, and it is cheaper to terminate the grooves as soon as possible.

The key strips l3 are substantially of right triangular form with the right angle arranged in the corner between the side and end walls. Each hypothenuse continues into one side of the tongue portion of each key strip, which engages the 45 grooves I3. The other sides of the tongue portions are formed by recessed areas N of 45, (see Fig. 3). The ends of the side walls I2 are flush with the bases of the recesses l3 so that when the box is assembled the'edges of the end walls [0 are exposed, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 clearly shows the key strips terminating slightly above the top face of the bottom wall I4.

In Figs. 5-7 inclusive a jig is shown to assist in the assembling of the crates. a bottom board IS. A pair of spaced transverse boards I? are attached thereon and areequipped with blocks l8 against which the edgesof .thejend walls may be engaged when the outer faces of: the end walls are placed in intimate contact with the inner faces of the board IT.

Strips I9 are attached upon the board t6. Certain of the strips l9 are located so as to be in intimate contact with the inner faces of the strips H. The box may be easily assembled by standing up'the end walls I0, placing the bottom wall H! in position, and engaging the side walls ll2'between the end walls. The side walls should be slipped downwards from thetop so that the key strips engage the grooves l3.

In Figs. 8-11 inclusive another embodiment of the invention is disclosed which is very similar to the previous form, except for the fact that the crate has side walls 12 which are slightly longer than the walls l2- so as to extend over-the edges of the end walls I 0. In Fig. 9 another-side wall is shown in detail and attention is particularly called to the fact that there are small portions which project past the key strips 13'. Itis these portions which engage over theedges of the end walls.

In Figs. 12-14 inclusivea still further modified embodiment of the invention is disclosed in which provision is made for accommodating bottom walls of different thicknesses to the crate.

More particularly, each of the key strips- I3 is formed with a groove 20 at its bottom on the outer face thereof extending vertically upwards. Within each groove there is a foot 21 which has vertical slots 22 through which nails 23 engage. The nails hold thefeet in fixed positions.

It is possible to slightly loosen the nails and shift the feet as desired. The lower ends of the feet-2l have bent portions 21 which are adapted to engage the topface of the bottom-wall.

It is to be-understood that the quality of wood, their sizes and proportion may be changed as desired.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be'understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifica-- tions coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

This jig comprises;

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:-

1. A collapsible fruit crate, comprising a pair of spaced end walls having strips along the bottom inner edges thereof, side walls to extend between the end walls, ke} strips attached on the end of the side walls and engaging with grooves along. the side portions of said end walls to hold the walls together, a bottom wall freely resting on said side strips, the side walls extending over the: side edges of the bottom wall to hold it against lateral displacement, lower edges of the key stripsresting against the top of the bottom wall. to hold it against transverse displacement, and members adjustably mounted on the key strips for engaging against the top face of the bottom wall, each key strip being formed with a vertical recess in which the member engages, each member having longitudinal slots through which nails pass and by which the member is adjustably mounted.

2. A collapsible fruit crate, comprising a pair of spacedend walls having stripsalong the bot-.

tom inner edges thereof, side walls to extend between theendv walls, key strips attached on the end. of the side Walls and engaging with grooves along the side portions of said end walls tohold the walls together, a. bottom wall freely resting on said,- side strips, the side walls extending over the side edges of the bottom wall; to hold it against lateral: displacement, lower edges of the key strips resting against the top ofv the bottom wall to hold it againsttransverse displacement and members adjustably mounted on. the key stripsfor engaging against the top face of the bottom Wall, each key strip. being, formed with a. vertical recess in which the member engages, each member havinglongitudinal; slots through which nails pass and by, which the member is adjustably mounted, and

the bottom portions of the members being turned under. and: adapted to engage the bottom wall.

3;. A collapsible fruit crate, comprising a pair of spaced end walls having strips along the bottom inner edges thereof, side walls to extend between the end walls, key strips attached on the end of the side walls and engaging with grooves along the. side portions of said end walls to hold the walls together, a bottom wall freely resting. on said: side strips, the side walls extending over the side edges of the bottom wall to hold'it against lateral displacement, a means on said key. strips for accommodating bottom walls of different thicknesses, comprising L-shaped members adjustably mounted in vertical recesses formed insaid key strips and: adapted to engage against. the top faceof-the bottom wall, and nails adapted to. engage through longitudinal slots formed: in said L-shaped' members to adjustably hold-saidLeshapedmembers on said key strips.

JACK NORINSBERG. CHARLES LEE ROYE. 

